Last summer I was amazed at the number of people building accessory units to rent out as vacation rentals. At rental prices of $2,000 per week, the money seems more important than preserving what most think as a unique experience — being part of an island community. Yes, the council perhaps by its eagerness to exploit our commercial potential and the taxes that will be forthcoming seems to shows little concern for the environmental damage that will be done. When I speak of the environment, I also speak of an environmental community and the resources that inure to it, such as quietness, opens spaces, noncongested roads, lack of crowding and clean water. Impact on water, waste, road congestion, noise, and undue pressure on medical services and more is a rude awakening for us residents during the summer months.
We need more than a moratorium. We need to step back several years, as now is too late. Permits issued at the beginning of 2015 or 2016 should the number permitted in 2020. Once we can gauge the impact of that number we can then advance procedures in ways that will be welcoming to visitors and compatible with community life.
It is not enough to continue to have meeting after meeting and no action or response from the Council members. I think Island Stewards should elicit statements from every council member to where they stand and solutions that they may have. If they do not line up with common sense solutions then we voters must determine if they are capable of the leadership demanded of them. If they don’t, we must advance new leaders that will do so.
Solutions exist in the number of permits that we wish to spread out over, say May 15 to Oct. 15. Solutions exist in the number of weeks in the month that rentals are permitted by a permittee. Solutions exist in the rotation of permits for permitees. Solutions exist by serious fines that are levied against persons avoiding permits or permit violation. The stewards have solutions to many issues and they speak for many of us. Not doing anything by the council is just BS and should not be tolerated.
Walter Corbin
Eastsound
